Big ammonia leak at works

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34045, 8 January 1976, Page 10

Big ammonia leak at works

(.V.z. Prc.s.s- Assucintuni > HASTINGS, -Jan. 7. • An engineer battered down a wall to stem a big ammonia leak in the Tomoana Freezing Works, Hastings,* which brought out all the city’s emergency services' this evening. The poisonous gas spread quickly through the large works when the end of a, compressor housing blew out. While six fire engines, five ambulances and police stood by a Tomoana shift engineer, Mr David Smith, donned an ammonia suit and breathing gear. He groped his way; through the thick white fumes in the compressor room and used a sledge hammer to smash a hole in a partition wall to reach two, valves and shut off the flow! of ammonia. Two firemen from th,e brigade at the works were taken to Hastings Hospital after being overcome by the gas. but were discharged after

.treatment. Many firemen and • 'emergency workers at the 1 scene were affected by the 1 gas. but did not need treatment. 1 Four men who were in the 1 compressor room when the compressor blew out had to' , race for their lives and about •70 workers in other parts of ..the works were quickly re-| 'moved. 1 The police stood by ready Ito evacuate nearby homes. , but this was not necessary. After Mr Smith had shut idown the valves, a breeze ; soon dispersed the gas and , the alert was lifted at 6.30 p.m.. 45 minutes after the ' first alarm. ]'